"It won't be immediate, but you'll die a few hours later, and there will be no evidence that you had a hand in it." Emily immediately burned the letter. In her hand, only a small vial of poison remained. A colorless, odorless poison. This hard-to-obtain poison left no evidence of poisoning, even after death.
"It must have come from an unknown mastermind."
She referred to the force manipulating Duke Javier from behind. Emily didn't know the identity of this person either. After much deliberation, Emily lifted her head. It was almost time to enter the palace. Why did the journey to the greenhouse, where she was to meet the emperor, feel shorter than usual?
'This isn't like me.'
Emily found herself unfamiliar with this side of herself. She prided herself on her ruthless nature, which even Javier would acknowledge, yet the fact that her target was the emperor made her hesitate. If she didn't kill the other, she would die. So, following her father's orders was the right thing to do. Someone else's life was of no importance.
'Right. If this fails, I'll be in immediate danger.'
Though she had steeled her resolve, she immediately softened when she saw Mabel waiting for her.
"Come on, Emily. I've prepared some refreshing tea. Is it okay?"
The emperor, with a charming smile, greeted Emily.
"Thank you for preparing such a fragrant tea again, Your Majesty."
"No problem. You're my friend, after all. This time we spend together, eating delicious things and talking, is so wonderful."
Emily's hand, which had been caressing the teacup, suddenly stopped.
'A friend?'
Even though it was clearly just a casual remark, she couldn't help but give it meaning.
"Your Majesty... do you consider me a friend?"
"Huh? Of course, we're friends. You're the first friend I ever had. When I knew nothing about society, you helped me the most... I'm always grateful."
Mabel, who had been pondering for a moment, tilted her head.
"Could it be, Emily... you want to be called 'sister' because you're older than me?"
"Wh-What? That..."
"Sure. Then I'll call you 'sister' when we're alone. Is that okay, Emily sister?"
Mabel, looking proud, giggled, and Emily couldn't help but smile. But her expression soon hardened. This wasn't the time to be laughing so carefree. Emily fidgeted with the vial in her pocket, conflicted. Mabel, who had been observing her closely, asked cautiously.
"What's wrong? You don't look well. Is something the matter?"
"No, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern. What shall we talk about today?"
"Uh-huh. The story about Lady Novar you told me before was really interesting!"
Emily, trying to hide her growing anxiety, chatted with Mabel. Mostly, Emily would share interesting rumors from society, and Mabel would listen, nodding along.
"-So, they caused a commotion at the patisserie."
"Why would they do that? What fools."
A natural silence fell between the giggling girls. Mabel was the first to speak.
"Did you know, Emily sister?"
"Yes?"
"I've been the emperor since I was very young, so I've only been outside the palace a few times. I don't know much about what happens outside, but I really enjoy hearing stories from you."
"Is that so?"
"Yep. The story about the commotion you just told was interesting, and the duel story you told last time was also great!"
"I'm glad you found it interesting."
"It might sound like a complaint, but Father and Oscar only try to protect me, so they never tell me about the outside world. That's why my perspective was narrow—"
Mabel, who had been speaking dejectedly, soon smiled.
"Thanks to you, Emily sister, I feel like my world has expanded!"
Emily was momentarily speechless.
'...I've never heard such words before.'
Everyone praised Emily, but it wasn't really for her. It was for the accolades her family received.
"Lady Javier will surely meet a good person and get married."
"Because she is the daughter of the House of Javier."
"Of course, Lady Javier will be the flower of society."
Emily grew up hearing such things. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't change her predetermined path. It was her duty as a lady of the House of Javier.
'Why does the emperor...'
Why does he say such things? It felt like he saw her for who she truly was. No one had ever done that.
"Have I been of help to Your Majesty?"
"Of course. Will you tell me more stories tomorrow?"
Seeing Mabel, who smiled and mentioned tomorrow, Emily stopped fidgeting with the vial of poison.
'I can't do it.'
Even if it meant disappointing her father and being sold off in marriage, or never becoming the head of the House of Javier, she couldn't harm the emperor.
"I'll tell you more stories tomorrow, as much as you want."
With that, Emily decided to completely abandon the idea of poisoning the tea. It was at that very moment she made her decision.
"...Cough!"
Mabel, who had been drinking tea, suddenly clutched her mouth and started coughing.
"Your Majesty!!"
Mabel's body tilted to the side and she collapsed onto the floor. Emily jumped up and rushed to Mabel's side.
'Could Father have planted someone here?!'
Perhaps he foresaw her failure and took preemptive action. Emily, trembling, checked Mabel's condition. Her face was contorted in pain.
"Ugh."
"Someone! Is anyone there? The emperor has been poisoned!"
Strangely, no one was around. Even the guards who had been waiting nearby were gone.
'What is this?'
Just as she felt a sense of unease, Mabel's eyes fluttered open.
"Hmm. So you did try to poison me."
"Your Majesty?"
"There are many reasons someone might collapse, but you immediately said it was poison."
For the first time, Emily saw Mabel's 'real face,' not the act she usually put on. The innocent smile was gone, replaced by a wicked grin.
"What just happened..."
"It was an act."
"You knew?"
"Of course. It was poison, right?"
Despite knowing she had tried to poison him, Mabel didn't flinch. Emily was even more bewildered by his reaction.
'How did he know?'
The only people who knew about this were Duke Javier and herself. There was an unknown mastermind, but she didn't think he was involved. If the goal was to assassinate the emperor, they would have kept it a secret. Just as she had completely given up on poisoning, she realized it might all be fate. Emily resigned herself.
"...Yes. I tried to poison Your Majesty."
Emily confessed her crime openly. There was no point in denying it; the evidence was clear. A body search would reveal the poison she had brought.
"Why did you try to poison me? Who told you to do it?"
"That..."
Emily couldn't answer. If she told the truth and said her father had ordered her, the family would be ruined.
'Enrique would be implicated too.'
So, she had to take full responsibility.
"It was my decision."
"Lie."
Mabel firmly dismissed Emily's claim.
"The truth. From the moment I debuted in society and Your Majesty drew attention, ruining my first appearance, I've resented you."
"Quite a story, but still a lie."
"...Why?"
Mabel, who had been observing Emily, shrugged and smiled faintly.
"Because you didn't poison me in the end."
"But I could have just not had the chance yet."
"No, you wouldn't have poisoned me at all."
Mabel's unwavering belief left Emily speechless.
"Why do you think that?"
"Because we're friends."
"Huh?"
"Oh, right. I called you 'sister.' Emily is my sister."
Emily couldn't follow the emperor's logic. He could be incredibly sharp one moment and then suddenly very innocent. She smiled weakly.
'If only I had realized this sooner.'
The recognition from her father and everything else were meaningless. But it was too late. Attempting to assassinate the emperor would result in execution. Emily clenched her fists.
"Please call the guards, Your Majesty."
Just as she resolved to confess and walk to her fate, Mabel tilted his head playfully.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"What?"
"We were drinking tea. Are you going to finish it?"
Only then did Emily realize why no one else was around. Mabel had never intended to arrest her for attempting to assassinate the royal family. He had been trying to overlook it. She couldn't hold back her tears anymore.
"If you had really poisoned the tea... what would you have done, huh, sniff."
"Hey, I'm not a fool. I wouldn't drink poisoned tea. Stop it."
Emily felt genuinely comforted by Mabel, who was trying to calm her like a child.
'This is the one.'
A sudden realization hit her. If she followed Mabel, she could escape this miserable reality.
"I'll tell you everything."
Mabel's eyes widened at Emily's words. She, relying on Mabel's generosity, added a condition.
"And, though it's shameless to ask, can you promise to protect my family and Enrique?"
Mabel smiled, as if he had been waiting for this.
"Of course."
It was what he had hoped for. ***
Lying in bed, I rolled around and then held the note up to the moonlight. [Be careful of Emily Javier.] I had tried to mimic a different handwriting,